HST 310: MIDTERM EXAM PREPARATION
The exam will consist of 4 identifications, worth 5 points each, and 2 essay questions worth 40 points each.
IDs will not be distributed in advance, but you will be given 10 possibilities to choose from. Each will be the name of a person, place or thing of some importance in early medieval history. In a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) give me the basic facts but also explain its significance – why did Prof. Gaddis think this was important enough to put it on the test? Don’t spend too much time on these – about 5 minutes for each.
Essays:
You are being given the questions in advance, so that you can take some time to plan how you will answer them. A good essay will have a clear argument and a coherent structure, and will back up its thesis by citing evidence. The comments and suggestions you received on your last paper will be helpful to you here as well. I do not expect you to use footnotes or direct quotations in an exam essay, but you should be making reference to specific events, people, or texts we have read. As you prepare, spend time outlining possible answers and making lists of supporting evidence you might use. During the exam, plan to spend approximately 30 minutes writing each question. As a general rule, an essay should fill at least 3-4 pages in the bluebook.
For each essay question, you may bring to class (and use during the exam) one 3"x 5" note card. Write on these in advance anything you want to (an outline, notes, names and dates, etc.) You may not use any other books or notes during the exam. If you choose to bring in note cards, you must hand them in with your exam.
Please choose two of the following essays, one from Group A and one from Group B.
Group A:
1. Compare and contrast Theodoric in Italy, and Clovis in Gaul, each representing two different models of post-Roman "barbarian" kingship. In each case, what was "Roman" about their regime and what was "barbarian?"
2. With respect to late Roman / early medieval Europe, discuss the effects of the physical environment (geography, climate, etc.) upon human society. What limitations did the technology of the time impose upon human activities such as government, travel/communication, or basic subsistence?
3. In a society without a strong central government, or modern police or courts, how is law and order maintained? How are disputes resolved, and who has the authority to resolve them? Discuss with reference to specific early medieval societies (early Germans, Ireland, Anglo-Saxon England, Merovingian Gaul).
Group B:
1. Why, according to fifth-century Christians, did God allow the Roman Empire to fall?
2. In what ways can hagiographies (stories of saints and their miracles) be used as reliable historical sources? What kinds of useful information can be gained from these texts? What are some potential problems? Pick any one hagiographical text we have read for class and discuss these issues.
3. Discuss the spread of Christianity outside the borders of the Roman empire. How did it spread? How did it change the "barbarian" societies it encountered? How was Christianity itself transformed as it took root in non-Roman cultures?
4. Compare and contrast the models of Christian holiness offered by the Martyrdom of Perpetua and the Benedictine Rule. How, according to these texts, can a Christian become holy? In what ways have Christian values changed from Perpetua’s time to Benedict’s, and what factors account for those changes?